INVERCLYDE Council’s two Conservative councillors have described plans to repeal an act banning inquests and civil actions into incidents which occurred during the Troubles as a ‘betrayal to British Armed Forces veterans’.

Councillors Graeme Brooks and David Wilson are set to table a motion at the next full council meeting which will call for Inverclyde Council’s leader to write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and ask him to reconsider his commitment to repealing the legislation.

If the Prime Minister wishes to press ahead with repealing the act, the Conservative elected members say the council leader should ask him to replace it with another piece of legislation.

They believe this act should offer British Armed Force veterans ‘at least the same degree of protection from prosecution related to the Troubles as those enjoyed by those already pardoned as part of the peace process’.

In this year’s King’s Speech, the UK Government repeated a pledge to repeal the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The controversial act introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to incidents during the conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

It also sought to offer a conditional amnesty for people suspected of Troubles-related crimes in exchange for co-operating with a new information recovery body.

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This element was disapplied after a court ruled it breached human rights, following legal action by bereaved families.

Inverclyde Council will consider the motion, which will be proposed by Councillor Brooks and seconded by Councillor Wilson, at its next full council meeting on December 5. 

The motion highlights Inverclyde Council’s status as the ‘proud’ holder of the gold-level award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme - commonly referred to as the Armed Forces Covenant - and the 2,289 veterans in Inverclyde.

It states: “In this year's King's Speech, on the 17th of July 2024, the Prime Minister set out measures to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

“This act gave members of the British Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland the same protection from prosecution as that given to those convicted of acts of terror and those who, until the passing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, had evaded justice.

“In interviews given by the Prime Minister prior to this year’s General Election, he made it clear that he does not believe British service personnel should have immunity from prosecution but convicted paramilitaries and those evading justice should continue to enjoy this protection as the cost of a lasting peace.

“The repeal of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 is an act of betrayal to British Armed Forces veterans who saw active service during Operation Banner.

“It is an affront to the British military community, serving and veterans.

“As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, this council calls on the leader of the council to write to the Prime Minister asking him to reconsider his commitment to repealing 2023 act or, if he is so determined, to replace it with an act that gives British Armed Forces veterans at least the same degree of protection from prosecution related to the Troubles as those enjoyed by those already pardoned as part of the peace process.”